The Role of Scalp Dermoscopy in the Diagnosis of Alopecia Areata Incognita

April 2008 in “ Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology ”

Antonella Tosti, David Whiting, Matilde Iorizzo, Massimiliano Pazzaglia, Cosimo Misciali, Colombina Vincenzi, Giuseppe Micali

alopecia areata incognita scalp dermoscopy videodermoscopy scalp biopsy yellow dots short regrowing hairs AAI

TLDR Scalp dermoscopy is good for diagnosing a type of hair loss and helps choose the best spots for biopsy.

From 2002 to 2006, a study involving 70 patients with alopecia areata incognita (AAI) utilized clinical examination and videodermoscopy, with 50 patients also undergoing scalp biopsy. The study revealed that a key dermoscopic sign of AAI was the presence of numerous, diffuse, round or polycyclic yellow dots, along with short regrowing hairs. These dermoscopic features were consistent with the histological findings from the biopsies. The research concluded that videodermoscopy is an effective diagnostic tool for AAI, aiding in the identification of the most suitable biopsy sites and potentially reducing the number of unnecessary biopsies.

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Research cited in this study

3 / 3 results

research Videodermoscopy in the Evaluation of Hair and Scalp Disorders

304 citations, July 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Videodermoscopy improves diagnosis of hair and scalp disorders and may reduce scalp biopsies.

research Acute Diffuse and Total Alopecia of the Female Scalp

59 citations, January 2002 in “Dermatology”

A new type of sudden, complete female hair loss was found, with most patients fully recovering within 6 months without needing steroid treatment.

research Alopecia Areata Incognita: A Hypothesis

60 citations, January 1987 in “Dermatology”

Alopecia areata may appear differently depending on the individual's type of hair loss and scalp condition.

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